Ad Hoc MS Program Application
Application to the Master of Science in Applied Statistics Degree Program
Application to the program requires students to complete the department’s Ad Hoc MS in Applied Statistics Degree Program Application and the TGS Application for Ad Hoc Combined Degree. These two forms are combined into the one application below for your convenience. In the application, students will be expected to submit an explanation for why they wish to pursue the degree and a plan of study outlining the courses they anticipate taking to complete the Ad Hoc MS. Students must receive approval of their plan of study from the Director of Graduate Studies their home department, their advisor, and the Ad Hoc MS in Applied Statistics Program Director, Prof. Elizabeth Tipton. Final approval to pursue the Ad Hoc MS degree comes from TGS.
Before starting the application process, students should review the TGS Ad Hoc combined degree requirements to make sure they are eligible to pursue the degree.
Students must apply for the Ad Hoc MS in Applied Statistics Degree program PRIOR to or shortly after starting coursework in the Department of Statistics. A maximum of two STAT classes can be taken before applying to participate in the Ad Hoc MS program. TGS policy restricts the number of courses (no more than 4 introductory courses including courses taken in other departments) that can be counted toward the MS degree before admission to the Ad Hoc program. See more about restrictions on the TGS Ad Hoc combined degree requirements page.
Steps to applying for the Master of Science in Applied Statistics Degree Program:
Step 1: Download and complete the Ad Hoc MS in Applied Statistics Degree Program Application. Please note this application requires you to complete both the Ad Hoc MS in Applied Statistics Program Application and the TGS Application for Ad Hoc Combined Degree. The forms are combined into one for your convenience.
Step 2: Contact your Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) or the Graduate Program administrator in your department to determine the 9 courses that will be used to meet the TGS minimum coursework requirement for your PhD. Remember, for each degree – both the PhD and Ad Hoc MS - you must complete nine, quality letter graded (ABC, not P/NP) course units authorized by TGS for graduate credit without any double counting. Courses taken for the PhD other than the 9 you list in the “PhD Degree courses for TGS degree requirement” section of the Ad Hoc MS application might also be counted toward the MS at the discretion of the MS in Applied Statistics Program Director. See https://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/academic-policies-procedures/policies/ad-hoc-combined-degrees.html for more information.
Step 3: Meet with your Advisor (or Director of Graduate Studies (DGS)) to review the courses and your proposed plan of study and discuss timeline.
Step 4: Contact Valerie Lyne at v-lyne@northwestern.edu to schedule your appointment with MS in Applied Statistics Program Director, Prof. Elizabeth Tipton. Meet with Program Director, Prof. Elizabeth Tipton, to review your proposed plan and discuss timeline. Make any needed changes to your application forms.
Step 5: Contact your Advisor and DGS and have them provide signatures of approval on the application. Be sure they include statements in appropriate boxes when required.
Step 6: Email your completed application with signatures and statements of support from your DGS and Advisor to Program Director, Prof. Elizabeth Tipton, at tipton@northwestern.edu for final review and approval.
Step 7: Director Tipton will sign and provide the approved application to the Statistics and Data Science Business Coordinator, Kisa Kowal, who will collect the statement of support and signature from the Statistics and Data Science department’s Director of Graduate Studies for the TGS portion of the application.
Step 8: Kisa Kowal will send a copy of your approved application to you and submit it to TGS. Kisa will also communicate with you about reserved seats if you have selected the Data Science course plan option or have STAT 302 on your plan.
Step 9: TGS will provide final approval necessary for you to pursue the Ad Hoc Master of Science in Applied Statistics degree.
If you have questions about the application or process, please contact the Business Coordinator, Kisa Kowal, at k-kowal@northwestern.edu